Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    Previous to my career at Digital, I was a person involved in the 
    "provision of: wells; water; housing, and other of what we consider
    life's necessities, for third world countries." as a Peace Corps
    volunteer.  The Peace Corps was founded by President Kennedy in the
    United States in 1961 and most developed countries have similar
    organizations.  In particular I was a rural construction specialist in
    Togo, a small country in West Africa.

    The role of the United States government then and I believe now is to
    provide the materials for construction.  The local government provides
    priority sites and leadership, and the people on-site provide the
    labor.

    The role of large companies is typically more indirect and more
    organized around capitalist ventures that have the prospects of
    longer-term employment such as the creation a tourism industry where
    there was none before, or the creation of a small manufacturing
    capability in an area that has too many people to be used in
    agriculture.  As a Peace Corps volunteer I could see hotels being built
    in the capital city and the Coca-Cola plant being expanded.

    Large companies contribute to CARE, Oxfam, and other charities.  But
    not a "high proportion".

    Now to analyze you question a bit:

    I don't know what the "Bob Geldof" approach it.  I do know that certain
    events full of figures from the entertainment world create awareness
    that's one millimeter deep and thousands of km wide.

    But the worst part of your question is the assumption that corporations
    have independent ownership of their cash.  It is the shareholders money
    to do with as they please.  If the shareholders are inclined to be
    charitable they ought to be free to choose who to give the money to.

    Thanks for your response. 
    
    Re your last paragraph - you are trying to read too much into my
    question. 
    
    Again thanks,
    
    kevin

>  The companies or corporations should preferably be
>  publically listed and probably make use of this information
>  as part of their corporate marketing campaigns.

>  The proportion of revenue should be at least 20% or more
>  on an annual turnover of at least $5 millon."

Kevin Manderson,

	Welcome!  Hope you'll introduce yourself in Note 3.0.

	I'm not sure I can meet the 20% criteria, but allow me to share
a couple thoughts with you anyway.

	A high quality ice cream manufacturing company, Ben & Jerry's, in
New Hampshire (I think), gives a percentage of their sales to a variety of
developmental programs.  Of the sales of one item in particular, Peace Pops,
2% is donated to projects which promote peace.  Ben & Jerry's products are
still something of a rarity out here in the western part of United States.

	Pax World Fund is a diversified mutual fund which refuses to invest
in the stock of companies which cater to the Pentagon or are integral to the
defense industry.  I maintain a small tax-deferred IRA (Individual Retirement
Account) with Pax World.  Note 180.1 provides more information.

	I, for one, appreciate Digital's Matching Gift program.  It is the
broadest, and among the most generous, corporate giving plans that I've
seen.  [Yes, I'll say it....God bless Digital!]

Peace,
Richard

    Richard:
              
             Ben & Jerry's is located in Vermont where, alas ,the cows
           no longer outnumber the people.
             They also market a product that part of the profits from
           it are use to fund projects to preserve the Amazon rain
           forest.
              They have a policy that all supplies the company buys
           must be sourced from local businesses if possible. All the
           milk and cream used is bought from small family run farms.
           Cookies, candies and such items mixed into the products
           are bought from local bakers and candy makers. 
              Another policy they have is no manager gets a raise in
           salary until all the people who work for them have been
           given a raise or until they have put a development plan in place
           for those who need to improve their job performance before
           being given a raise


                                                               Mike

    If you were to set up a business and based its policies on Christian
    principles, what would it "look like"?
    
    Peace,
    Richard

re:  .6

  > If you were to set up a business and based its policies on Christian
  > principles, what would it "look like"?

In it's pure non-profit form, there is an excellent example.  It's called:


             "The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society"


Steve